THE ADVENTURES OF THE DOCTOR'S AMAZING HAND

Chapter Thirty Six

It took a couple of hours to explain to James what was going on. While they were talking, James just sat there and stared at them, slack jawed, as they explained about the Doctor and the Master being aliens and how they needed to go around the world to tell people about them. James shook his head when they finished.

"I would say you two are bonkers except I can tell you're not," he said. "So, you're honestly gonna do this for this Doctor fella?"

"I'd do anything for him," Rose said. "He's a wonderful man, James; I hope you get to meet him someday. He changed my life."

"And that's his severed hand," James said, pointing to John.

"Yup, his magical severed hand," Rose said, patting John's back.

"So, he's got one hand then," James said.

"No, he has two. He grew another one right after he regenerated," Rose said.

"Jesus. And I thought I'd heard some wild stories in my time. Um…as for travelin' with ya…after everything you've told me…I don't know why, but I actually do wanna go with ya. Maybe it's just curiosity, maybe it's just the need to help ya'll out but if you'll have me, I'll join ya on this crazy crusade of yours."

"Thank you," Rose said. "We'll all look out for one another and help each other through this."

"I hope so because after seeing those…Toclafane things in action, I don't think ya'll will stand a chance unless we all work together."

"My thoughts exactly," Ianto said. "Speaking of working together…wonder what's keeping Martha?"

"Maybe she spent the night with someone rather than risk coming back here," Rose said.

"That could be. I hope she did, especially if there are wild dogs out there. For now, why don't you and James get some sleep and I'll keep my eyes open for her and just keep watch in general. We can use the prybar in the morning to open these fruit machines and get the food. I don't feel like doing it now. Anyway, get some sleep."

Rose nodded and she and James slipped into their sleeping bags while Ianto took the prybar and torch and stepped outside to do a short patrol. John came up beside Rose and lay down near her head. Rose smiled and rubbed his back before wishing James good night. James did the same and Rose shut her eyes and relaxed. About twenty minutes later, she was fast asleep and dreaming.

In the dream Rose was standing in a large elegant ballroom. The floor was made of white marble and the crystal chandeliers hanging above were reflected in it. The walls had wood paneling on them and the large windows along the side had heavy pink curtains covering them. There was a black baby grand piano off to the side near the glass double doors and on the other side of the room across from the piano sat the TARDIS. Rose looked down and noticed she was wearing a fluffy pink ball gown that matched the curtains with white slippers. Her hair was done up in a chignon and a pink rose was in her hair. She slowly walked towards the TARDIS and when she neared it, the door opened and her heart soared when the Doctor stepped outside, youthful as ever.

"You're alright!" Rose said, running to him and hugging him. "You're young again!"

"Yes, everything's alright now," the Doctor said. "I've stopped the Master and everything's back to normal."

Fear gripped Rose's heart and she pulled back from him.

"But if your plan succeeded, that means I go back," she said to him. "I go back to the other universe forever. I'll never see you again."

The Doctor gave her a knowing smile and Rose gave him a puzzled look.

"What is it?" she said.

"I have something for you," he said to her. "Something that will comfort you when you're far from me…or rather someone."

"Who?" Rose said.

The Doctor leaned back through the door and gestured to someone. He pulled back out and leaned against the side of the TARDIS, watching Rose with a loving look. Rose watched and her mouth dropped open when another Doctor showed himself and came down the ramp. He was dressed in a blue suit with a maroon t-shirt. He stopped just outside the TARDIS doors and smiled tenderly at Rose.

"What is this?" Rose asked the Doctor.

"You don't recognize me, Rose?"

Rose looked at the second Doctor.

"You're the Doctor," she said.

The second Doctor chuckled. He leaned over and Rose watched while he put his right hand on the floor and used his fingers to walk towards her. He chuckled again when Rose's eyes bugged out of her head.

"John?" Rose said as he leaned back up.

"The one and only," John said. "Oh! Sorry!"

The Doctor chuckled when he signed what he just said with his fingers. Rose looked him over and then walked over to the Doctor.

"But what does this mean?" Rose said to him.

"Rose, I love you, but we can never truly be together," the Doctor said.

"Why?"

"You know why," the Doctor said. "I told you, it's the curse of the Time Lords. I will live on, young and strong, while you wither and die and I don't want that for you. But…"

Rose felt John come up behind her and the Doctor smiled.

"Fate, it seems, has provided an answer," he said. "John can do for you what I cannot. He can grow old with you and be your lover in a way I could never be."

Rose looked over her shoulder at John. He smiled broadly at her and put his right hand on her shoulder.

"I was created for you, Rose," he said to her.

"But aren't you a Time Lord, you have the same curse?" Rose said.

"No, I'm like him but I'm also different," John said.

"How?"

The Doctor and John shared a conspiratorial look and John bent into Rose's ear.

"It's a secret," he whispered. "You aren't meant to know that yet or how I come into being, only know that I was meant to be with you. The universe created me so we could be together at last."

Rose looked at the Doctor when he stepped up and kissed her forehead.

"This is my gift to you," he said to her. "I'm giving you a part of myself and he will be there for you in ways I could never be. He is your destiny, not me. Love him as deeply as you love me."

Rose was speechless. She looked back at John and saw the same love shining in his eyes that the Doctor had.

"Dance with me, my darling," John said. "Be with me now."

"But, will you be alright?" Rose asked the Doctor.

"Of course," the Doctor said. "I'm happy knowing that you're happy. I will always love you, my Rose, which is why I have entrusted you to John. Go with him and be happy, live life to the fullest with him at your side."

Rose kissed his cheek and the Doctor let out an "Aww," as she stepped back. His eyes shifted to John and Rose turned to see he was now wearing a black tux, white shirt and black bow tie. While she gazed at him, drinking in the sight of him, the piano started playing a waltz without anyone at the keys. Rose stared at the piano for a moment in wonder before she looked at John who was watching her with quiet devotion. She ran her hand down her tux and giggled when she fingered his bow ties.

"Strange seeing you in bow ties instead of a tie," she teased.

"Hey, bow ties are cool," John said.

Rose smiled, held out her hands and John took them. The Doctor folded his arms over his chest and watched contentedly while John and Rose began to dance around the ballroom. They danced together in perfect synchronization. While they waltzed, Rose heard a wheezing. She looked over and saw the TARDIS vanishing. She stopped and watched it go and then looked at John.

"Phew, I thought we'd never get rid of the old geezer," John said. "Alone at last. Shall we continue the dance then?"

Rose smiled and nodded. John leaned in and they shared a passionate kiss before the two of them resumed their waltz.

Rose opened her eyes and raised her head. John was lying at her side, not moving. She looked back at James and noticed he was snoring softly as he lay curled up on his side in the sleeping bag. He turned her eyes back to John who was now up on his fingers watching her.

"Do you ever sleep?" she asked him.

John flipped up on his wrist.

No, I rest but I don't sleep, he signed. What's wrong? Is something the matter?

"I…I had a dream," Rose said.

Bad dream?

"No, it was a bit bizarre but…can you and I go somewhere and talk privately for a moment."

Sure.

Rose shimmed out of her sleeping bag while John skittered back so she'd have room to get up. Once she was free of her sleeping bag, she took one of the torches and put John on her shoulder. She carefully stepped around James so she wouldn't wake him up and headed towards the door.

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